Remote-control system



June 12, w A, DERR REMOTE-CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 10, 1948 INVENTOR h/fl/ardfl. Derr: ATTORN WITNESSES:

Patented June 12, 1951 REMOTE -CONTROL SYSTEM Willard A. Derr, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 10, 1948, Serial No. 1,538

Claims. 1

My invention relates, generally, to remote control systems, and it has reference, in particular, to remote control and indicating systems for circuit breakers and the like.

Generally stated, it is an object of my invention to provide a simple and effective remote control system for circuit breakers which shall be inexpensive to manufacture, and which is reliable and effective in operation.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to provide, in a remote control system for circuit breakers, for operating an alarm when a circuit breaker trips free while it is being closed.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in a remote control system for a circuit breaker, for operating an alarm when the breaker trips free while an attempt is beingmade to close it, or when the breaker trips other than through an operation from a remote control station.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide for using a control relay in a circuit breaker remote control system to provide a momentary operating circuit for a continuous alarm device.

A further object of my invention is to provide for using a time delay relay in a control system for a circuit breaker so as to provide for setting up an operating circuit for an alarm device should the breaker open while it is being closed.

It is also an object of my invention to provide, in a remote control system for a circuit breaker,

.for indicating to an operator who may be attempting to close the breaker that it has tripped free.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be disclosed hereinafter.

In practicing my invention in one of its forms, each of the circuit breakers at a remote station is provided with a. control relay at a control station which is responsive to operation of an auxiliary breaker switch for providing an operating circuit for an alarm device whenever a breaker operation results from other than operation of a breaker control switch at the control station. A common signal channel is provided between the remote station and the control station for operating the alarm device whenever the breaker trips free while the control switch is in the closing position.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description, which may be read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which the single figure Referring to the drawing, the reference numeral I0 may denote generally a remote control system for controlling the operation of a plurality of circuit breakers represented by circuit breakers l2 and [4, which may be located at a remote station l5, from a dispatching office or control station I 6.

The circuit breakers l2 and [4 may be of the trip free type, provided with armatures l1 and I8 having operating windings l9 and 20, respectively, associated therewith for closing the breakers. The armatures I1 and I8 may be operatively connected to closing mechanisms 22 and 23 of the breakers by means of associated latch members 25, '26 and 21, 28. Trip means 30 and 3| may be provided for actuating the closing mechanism 22 and 23 to' separate the latch members 25, 26 and 21, 28 respectively, for tripping the breakers. The trip means 30 and 3| may be provided with trip windings 33 and 34, respectively.

The circuit breakers l2 and I4 may be provided with closing relays 36 and 31 having operating windings 38 and 39 respectively. Cute-oil relays 40 and 4| having operating windings 42 and 43, respectively, may be provided for deenergizing the closing relays when their respective circuit breakers close.

Operation of the circuit breakers from the remote control station It may be effected by means of auxiliary closing relays 45 and 46, having operating windings 48 and 49, respectively. The auxiliary closing relays may be arranged to eflect energization of the operating windings 38 and 39 of the closing relays 36 and 31, respectively. Tripping of the circuit breakers may be effected by means of auxiliary trip relays 50 and 52 having operating windings 53 and 54, respectively. The auxiliary trip relays may be disposed to eifect energization of the trip windings 33 and 34 of the trip means 30 and 3| in order to open or trip the circuit breakers. Operation of the trip means 30 and 3| may also be effected by means of suitable protective devices, which may be represented by the under voltage relays 56 and 51.

Selective operation of the auxiliary closing relay 45 and the auxiliary trip relay 50 may be effected by means of a manual control switch 50 at the remote control station IS. The control switch 60 may be arranged to connect either one of the operating windings 48 and 53 to one conductor 62 of a control bus at the remote control station through conductors 63 and 64, respectively. The other conductor 65 of the control bus may be connected to a control bus conductor 61 at the remote station by means of a conductor 68 extending between the control and remote stations. Operation of the auxiliary closing and tripping relays 46 and 52 of the circuit breaker is may be similarly effected by means of a 5 manual control switch Ill at the control station.

Indications'of the operating positions of the circuit breakers may be provided by means of red and green signal lights 13, 14 and l5, 16 as winding 48, conductor I00, and common consociated with the circuit breakers. I2 and I4, respectively. Operation of the lam'ps13and 14 may be effected by means of a si'gnal relay 18 having an operating winding T9 'which 'may be connected for energization to anauxiliary con- 15 tact member 12d of the circuit 'breaker. through. a line conductor 80 extending from the remote station to the control station. The signal lamps 15 and 16 may be controlled by means of a signal relay 82 which may becontfolle'd by anvauxiliary 20 contact member Hit" of the circuit: breaker i4 over conductor 832 In order toprovide an indication of 'when the circuit breakers I2 and I 4"are tripped other than by operation-of the c'ontrol switches 68': andIl-O; an alarm device 84 may be provided for operationunder the control of an alarmrelay 85-having an operating winding 86 5 The operating winding 86= m'ay'be disposed for connection: between I the conductors 62* anc'li 6501 the" control: bus through either one" of: two" circuits comprising; respectively; off-"contact members. Elle or 10c of the control 'switches'fifland I0; m-akecontact members 1800 or BZa-"and break contact members 18bor-82b which 'may bearranged ina makebefore-break relationship: A: capacitor 88 may be connected-in shunt-circuit relation with the operating winding. 86 so' as to insuroperatio'n of the alarm relay in response tothe momentary energization of its operating winding through th'e- 40 make before=break contact members".

In order to prdvi'de for indicating positively to an operator at the control station Hi When either one of the circuit breakers trips rree' whilethe control switch is being" operated to-close it, con-- trol means 90" may" be provided for operating the alarm device 84. The control means'maycomprise an' auxiliary" control relay 92 having an operating winding 93, and a timedelay control relay 94 having an operating winding 95. A- capacitor 96'may be 'connectedacross the operating winding 95' in circuit relation with: an ad-' justable resistor 91 top'rovide a time delay char acteristic' to thecontrolrelay 94. The operating winding 95 or the control relay'94 maybe con nected for energizatiofi through auxiliary con tact members IZcand Hoof the circuit breakers and contact members 4-5a and 46d of the auxiliary closing relays 45 and-46. Accordingly, the control relay will be energized only when one of the 0 circuit breakers-is closed-and when its respective auxiliary closing relay is in the operative posi-- tion, indicating that one of the control switches 69 and 10 has been operated toclose the particular circuit breaker.

The auxiliary control relay 92 may have its operating winding 93 connected for energizationthrough contact member 94a of the time delay control relay, and back contact members I21) and Nb of the circuit breakers. Accordingly, the 70 control relay 92 will be energized to provide an operating circuit for the alarm relay 85, only when either one of circuit breakers I2 or M opens during the time interval within which the time delay control relay 94 remains in the op- 4 erated position after the circuit breaker closes. A reset push button switch 99 may be connected in series circuit relation with the alarm relay so as to provide for releasing or resetting it.

In operation, the circuit breaker l2 may be closed by operating the control switch 60 to the close position. An operating circuit is provided thereby for the auxiliary closing relay 45, extending from control bus conductor 62, through contact member 681), conductor 63, operating duct'or' 68 back to the control bus conductor 65.

-Relay 45 operates; and provides an energizing circuit for the operating winding 38 of the closing relay 36, extending from remote control bus conductor llll,v through contact members 49a of cut -oif relay 40, operating winding 38, contact members 45b to the other remote control bus conductor H12. The closing relay 36 operates and connects: the operatingwinding, [f the circuit breaker [2 totheremote. control I bus.- conductors through an obvious: circuit extending through contact members 36b; Aholding circuitzforthe closing relay is provided through contact members When the operating-winding l-9-actuates.the armature 11- to close the circuit breaker l2 an. energizing circuit is provided-for the operating winding; 42 of thecut-off relay 48.. extending through contact members: lie of: the circuit breaker and contact members36aof the closing relay. The cut-ofr'. relay operates and. interrupts the energizing circuit for the operating. winding 38? of the closing relay at contact members- 40a.

A holding circuit for. the cut-off relay is provided through contact members 401).

When the circuit breaker closes; the signal, relay 78 operates; because. an. energizing. circuit. for. the: operating winding 79 isrprovidedthrou-gh auxiliary contact members l-2d of the circuit breaker. Accordingly, the green lamp 14 will be extinguished and. an energizing circuit. will. be. provided. for the red lamp 1%- through, contact member and its front contacts. During ope eration a-momentary circuit isprovided through the make contact member 18a and the breakcontact member 18bbecause. of the make-beforebreak relationship. Since the control. switch 60 is operated-to the close position, .the alarm relay 85 will not be operated, as the operating circuit therefor is interrupted at contact members 600 of the control switch. Should the circuit breaker I2 be tripped through operation of the control switch 60, the same condition would'exist, so that operation of the alarm relay could not result therefrom.

Should. the circuit breaker l2 be tripped as a result of operation of a protective device such as the voltage relay 58, the signal relay [8 will be deenergized by the opening of auxiliary contact members l2d of the breaker I2. The red lamp. 13 will therefore be extinguished while the green lamp will be lit.

When the signal relay 18 returns to the deenergized position upon the breaker l2 tripping, a momentary circuit is again provided through contact members 18a and 181), due to the makebefore-break relationship. Since the control switch 60 is in the off position, an energizing circuit will be provided for the alarm relay 85, extending from control bus conductor 65 through contact members 690, make contact member 18a, break contact member 18?), conductor I83 andoperating winding 86 to the other control bus conductor 62. The alarm relay 85 operates, and

provides an obvious energizing circuit for the alarm device 84 through contact members 85a.

The circuit breaker I2 may be reclosed by operating the control switch 60 to the close position. "should the circuit breaker trip free during the closing operation, it is exceedingly important that the operator be positively notified of this condition, otherwise the breaker will continue to attempt to reclose so long as the operator holds the control switch 60 in the close position. The signal lamps I3 and I4 afford no indication of a trip free operation during closing, since there may be only a momentary flicker of the lamps as the auxiliary contact members Hit of the circuit breaker closes and then opens again.

As soon as the circuit breaker I2 closes and energizing circuit is provided for the time delay control relay 94, extending from the control bus conductor 62 through conductor I05, operating winding 95, conductor I06, contact members [2b, conductor I01, contact members 45a, conductor I00, and conductor 68 back to the other control bus conductor 65. The control relay 94 operates to the closed position. Should the circuit breaker I2 be tripped free, the control relay 94 will remain in the closed position for a predetermined interval of time because of the time delay characteristics produced by the capacitor 96 and resistor 91. As soon as the breaker reaches the open position, an energizing circuit will be provided for auxiliary control relay 92, extending from control bus conductor 62 through conductor I05, operating winding 93, contact members 94a, conductor I09, contact members I21), contact members 45a, conductor I00, and conductor 68 back to the other control bus conductor 65. Accordingly, the auxiliary control relay 92 operates, and provides an energizing circuit for the alarm relay 85 through contact members 92a to indicate to the operator that the breaker has closed and then tripped free. The operator may reset the alarm relay by operating the reset button 99 to interrupt the energizing circuit for the operating Winding 86. The auxiliary control relay 92 and control relay 94 will function similarly when the circuit breaker l4 trips during a closing operation.

From the above description and the accompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided a simple and effective control system for a remotely operated circuit breaker or breakers. By utilizing an alarm system in the manner described, the operator is at all times informed of the operating condition of the circuit breaker, even during a closing operation. Since the alarm system is common, only a minimum number of conductors need be used, regardless of the number of breakers at the remote station. This clearly simplifies the expense of installing and maintaining the system.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described construction, and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. A control and signal system for a circuit breaker which is to be operated at a remote station from a control station comprising, a control switch at the control station, control means at the remote station selectively operable in response to operation of the control switch to close or trip the breaker, an alarm device, and control means including time delay means operable to effect energization of the alarm device, only in response to opening of the circuit breaker within a predetermined time of operation of the control switch to close the breaker.

2. A control system for a circuit breaker at a remote location having auxiliary contact means closed when the breaker is closed and other auxiliary contact means closed when the breaker is open disposed for operation from a control station comprising, closing and trip means at the remote station operable to close and trip the breaker, a single control switch at the control station having a non-operated position and operable to close and trip positions to effect operation of the closing and trip means, said control switch having contact means normally closed in the nonoperated position, alarm means at the control station, relay means at the control station responsive to operation of the circuit breaker having contact means providing a momentary closed circuit, circuit means including said momentary closed circuit and said normally closed contact members providing an energizing circuit for the alarm device Whenever the breaker opens while the control switch is in the non-operated position, control means at the remote station operable in response to opening of the breaker within a predetermined time after closing to provide an energizing circuit for the alarm device, and circuit means including contact means of said closing means closed when the closing means is operated and both the auxiliary contact means of the breaker connected to provide an operating circuit for the control means.

3. In an indicating system for a circuit breaker at a remote station, control means at the remote station controlled by a control switch at a control station operable to close the breaker, relay means at the control station responsive to closing of the circuit breaker, said relay means having make-before-break contact members, an alarm device at the control station, circuit means including contact means responsive to positioning of the control switch in the non-operated position and said make-before-break contact means providing an energizing circuit for the alarm device, a time dela control relay responsive to operation of the control means and closing of the breaker, and an additional control relay responsive to opening of the breaker while the said time delay control relay remains closed to provide an energizing circuit for the alarm device, only while the control switch is operated to close the breaker.

4. In a remote control system for a trip free circuit breaker controlled from a control station by a control switch, an alarm device, a time delay relay, circuit means providing an operating circuit for the time delay relay including contact means closed when the control switch is operated to close the breaker and contact means closed when the circuit breaker closes and opened when it trips free, an auxiliary control relay operable to provide an operating circuit for the alarm device, and circuit means providing an operating circuit for the auxiliary control relay including contact means responsive to operation of the time delay relay and contact means responsive to opening of the circuit breaker.

5. In an indicating system for a plurality of circuit breakers at a remote station arranged for operation in response to individual control switches at a control station, a common alarm device at the control station, a common auxiliary control relay at the remote station operable to provide an operating circuit for thezala'rm device, at time delay relay having normally open, contact means, circuit means connected to provide an operating circuit for the. time delay relay including contact means responsive to closing, of either circuit breaker and additional contact meansresponsive to operationof the control switch to close said breaker, and additional circuit means including the normally open contact means of the time delay relay, contact means responsive to the opening of said circuit breaker and said additional contact means connected to provide an operating circuit for the auxiliary control relay.

WILLARD A. DERR.

8' I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,391,241 Burnham Sept. 20, 1921 1,888,329 Nelson 1 Nov. 22, 1932. 2,019,350 Koberich Oct. 29, 1935 2,260,061 Stewart Oct. 21, 1941 2,278,939 Muehter Apr. 7, 1942 2,340,079 Reagan Jan. 25, 1944 2,360,172 Stewart Oct. 10, 1944 

